View synonyms for

defender

[dih-fen-der]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person who defends someone or something from attack, assault, or injury.
We commemorate the brave defenders of this fort.
Law.��an attorney for a defendant, especially a public defender.
the systemwide benefits of effective defenders.
a person who supports an argument, theory, thesis, etc., in the face of criticism or challenging questions.
defenders of gay rights.
Sports.��
1. a team player whose assigned role is to prevent the other team from scoring.
  On the court, he’s an exceptional defender and a natural leader.
2. a contestant or team that attempts to retain a championship title, rank, etc., in a competition against a challenger.
  Her main rival is the young title defender from Italy.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of defender¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; defend ( def. ) + -er ² ( def. )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The fact the Spanish giants were willing to pay Liverpool a reported £8m to secure the defender's early release so he could play in the tournament is testament to the staggering riches on offer.

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A representative from the Ventura County public defender’s office was not available to comment on behalf of the accused.

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Even so, former Leeds and Manchester City defender Mills acknowledged that obliterating a record set by multiple Olympic gold winner Farah was something special.

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As the president and his supporters in conservative media tell it, he is the defender of law and order and American values.

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The coach who employed three central defenders with wing-backs at Chelsea has yet to use this tactic with England, and time is running out before the real action starts at the World Cup next summer.

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Related Words

protector��
sponsor��
supporter��

defendant defender of the bond

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